Was to flyby Mars, but it broke into pieces right after launch. Pieces remained in Earth orbit for a few days before falling back through Earth's atmosphere.

Mars 1

USSR

November 1, 1962

----

Flyby

Communications failed enroute. As of March 21, 1963, the spacecraft was never heard from again. At this point, the spacecraft was 106,760,000 km from Earth.

Mars 1962B (Sputnik 24)

USSR

November 4, 1962

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Lander

Mars 1962B was designed to land on Mars. The spacecraft and booster system designed to transfer Mars 1962B to Mars trajectory broke up during that transfer. Pieces fell through the Earth's atmosphere in January 1963.

Mariner 9 returned more than 7,329 images. These images provided the first global mapping of Mars. Mariner 9 also included the first detailed views of moons Phobos and Deimos.

Mars 4

USSR

July 21, 1973

February 1974

Orbiter

Was suppose to go into orbit around Mars, but due to computer chip failure, the spacecraft could not slow down.
It flew past Mars at 2,200 km range and was able to return one swath of images and data on the ionosphere of Mars.

Mars 5

USSR

July 25, 1973

February 2, 1974

Orbiter

Mars 5 successfully entered Mars orbit. Over 60 images were returned in 9 day period. Then, there was a loss of pressurization failure and the spacecraft could not submit more data. Unfortunately, Mars 5 was suppose to serve as relay transmitters for landers 6 and 7.

Mars 6

USSR

August 5, 1973

March 12, 1974

Lander

Soft landed at 24* S, 25* W
Returned atmospheric data to carrier bus during descent, but not after landing.

Mars 7

USSR

August 9, 1973

March 6, 1974

Lander

Due to computer chip failures, the Lander missed the planet.
Carrier bus and lander now in solar orbit.

The Viking Landers obtained images, measured wind speeds, wind directions, and temperatures at the surface.
They also measured chemical and physical properties of the surface. In all, the 2 Landers returned over 1,400 images of their landing sites.

The Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters returned 55,000 images showing surface details as small
as 10 m. They also collected gravity field data, monitored atmospheric water levels, and
thermally mapped selected surface sites.

Phobos 1

USSR

July 7, 1988

----

Lander and Orbiter

Lost en route to Mars due to command error on September 2, 1988. After this contact could not be regained.

Phobos 2

USSR

July 12, 1988

January 1989

Landers and Orbiter

Phobos 2 went into orbit around Mars. It did gather data on the Sun, interplanetary medium, Phobos and Mars. A malfunction of the on-board computer caused Earth to lose contact with Phobos 2, so that commands could not be given to release the 2 Landers to the Martian surface.

The MGS is a kind of replacement for the lost Mars Observer. It has the same spacecraft design. Its science objectives are to complete a high resolution mapping of the surface, study the topography and gravity of Mars, assess the role of water and dust on the surface and in the atmosphere of Mars, and determine the existence and evolution of the Martian magnetic field. The mission is expected to continue until April of 2002.

Mars 96

Russia

November 16, 1996

----

Orbiter

The spacecraft failed to achieve Mars trajectory. It crashed back through the Earth's atmosphere on November 17, 1996, landing in the Pacific Ocean.

The MPF landed on Martian surface on July 4, 1997. The Sojourner rover rolled onto the surface on July 6, 1997. The rover explored the surface and analyzed rock and soil samples. The stationary component was powered by solar panels.

The Nozomi spacecraft has been delayed four years from its original scheduled rendezvous with Mars in 1999. It will reach Mars in 2003. It will proceed to study the upper atmosphere of Mars and its interaction with the solar wind. Nozomi means "hope" in Japanese.

The MPF landed on Martian surface on July 4, 1997. The Sojourner rover rolled onto the surface on July 6, 1997. The rover explored the surface and analyzed rock and soil samples. The stationary component was powered by solar panels.

The MCO made it to Mars, but was torn apart by atmospheric stresses when faulty commands were sent to the spacecraft bringing the spacecraft too close to the surface of the planet. This navigation error resulted because come commands were sent using English units when they should have been sent in metric units! This shows the importance of checking your work several times and having your work evaluated and checked by others!

The Mars Polar Lander was suppose to touch down in the southern polar region of Mars. Unfortunately, contact with the spacecraft was lost on December 3, 1999. The spacecraft has not been heard from again and no reason for the loss of signal is known.

Deep Space 2 (Mars Microprobes)

USA

January 3, 1999

----

Surface penetrators

These Deep Space 2 probes were attached to the Mars Polar Lander. The probes were released and were suppose to penetrate the Martian atmosphere and the Martian surface in the south polar region. One of the most important pieces of data these 2 probes were to return was whether there is water ice below the surface of Mars. Unfortunately, on December 3, 1999, contact with the probes was lost.

The 2001 Odyssey will orbit Mars for at least 3 years. The 2001 Odyssey will collect data on what chemicals and minerals make up the Martian surface. It will also provide vital information about potential radiation hazards for future human explorers.

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